NTGD: Success Story #1

The countdown to North Texas Giving Day begins! We’re sharing one success story a week until September 22 to show the impact of our programming. In this story, one student from Communities in Schools shares how proud she was to see her work on display at SPARK! Every $25 donation goes towards materials to make projects like these possible. PLUS, donations of $25 or more made through the NTGD website are eligible for bonus funds and prizes from Communities Foundation of Texas!

A Successful Second Visit

In April of 2015 we celebrated World Creativity and Innovation Week and invited 24 students from Communities in Schools to experience creative immersion during the first-ever SPARK! field trip. These students practiced recycled art by designing and painting hubcaps to be installed on our wavy bridge. SPARK! opened the week of June 9 and that week, two of these students and one teacher visited SPARK! for a second time. One young lady found the hubcap she painted on her first visit hanging from our bridge and quickly showed-off her creation to her friends. She was so proud to see her hubcap displayed and to know that something she created was valued. She shared her pride and joy with SPARK! Staff, quoting: “It’s really amazing to know that a hubcap can be made into art and that my experience … could be so great.” Take a look at the young lady’s reaction.

After witnessing the uptick in this young lady’s self-definition as creative during her second visit, the Metamorphosis Project idea was sparked!

The exercise of figuring out how to decorate a hubcap will lead to deeper and stronger problem-solving skills as she matures and this boost to her self-esteem will help build her confidence. The perceived risk-taking of exploring the SPARK! environment and exercising her creativity provide positive reinforcement that she’ll apply to her next growth opportunity. Repeat visits to SPARK! will continue to build self-esteem, develop problem-solving skills and produce the types of experiences that lead to more successful academic performance and stronger career possibilities. Stay tuned for next week’s story!